Endangered Species Instruments Initiative

"It is widely understood that lions, pandas and polar bears are all in serious jeopardy … Using the "endangered species" model employed by the World Wide Fund for Nature, campaigners have been highlighting the scarcity of bassoonists and paving the way for the promotion of other orchestral instruments that are under threat, such as the oboe, french horn, viola, trombone and double bass." By Vanessa Thorpe (The Guardian 2015)

Some orchestral instruments have been nationally identified as "Endangered Species" instruments as there are very few children learning them. The balance of instruments in our Youth Ensembles, and indeed in our orchestras of the future is therefore in jeopardy.

Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service had a number of instruments available not being used, many of them in need of repair, therefore, with the support of our repair technicians, Alison Cooper (woodwind) and Andy Beswick (brass) we have managed now to increase the number of players.

First came the bassoons, and with the help of a promotional video on our website, made with the support of Laurence Perkins, a professional recital bassoonist, we now have almost 50 bassoons being learned, taught by Rebecca Wong and Ceri Beaumont. (Read more in an article from the Music Teacher magazine page 1, page 2& page 3). This work has now expanded out to the following instruments: Oboe, Trombone and French Horn. Plans to start double bass are also in progress.

We would be delighted to help your child take up one of the following Endangered Species Instruments.

Our main goals are that your child enjoys learning to play their instrument and continues to make good progress. We would expect them to join one of our ensembles, alongside their normal lesson when they have reached a suitable standard. This will continue to develop their ensemble skills and support the sustainability of these instruments and for the future of our orchestras.

2nd term FREE Instrument Hire, small charge of £25 per term for the tuition and the opportunity to join one of our performance ensembles with FREE membership for the duration of the scheme.

3rd term FREE Instrument Hire, small charge of £25 per term for the tuition and the opportunity to join one of our performance ensembles with FREE membership for the duration of the scheme and there after access to theEndangered Species discountshould they wish to continue playing in one of our ensembles.

Please click on a Heading below to find out more about the initiative and the instruments involved!

From time to time we take photographs or video/DVD recordings for publicity or archive purposes which may be published or used as display and publicity material on the Leicester-Shire Music Education Hub website, The Leicester-Shire Music and Cultural Trust website and / or brochures, leaflets and displays, newspaper/magazine articles, and in recordings of public performances. Please let us know above if you do / do not give consent for this.